One to Watch: Kirsty Ward

Published January 14, 2011•Updated on January 14, 2011 at 12:30 pm

Kirsty Ward

After graduating from Central Saint Martins in 2008, UK-based designer Kirsty Ward was immediately scooped up by Alberta Ferretti, with whom she worked until founding her eponymous label this year. Now, with a knockout debut collection of jewelry and womenswear, Ward is starting to earn the recognition she deserves.

For spring, the multi-talented designer crafted a ready-to-wear collection complete with a range of bold jewelry accents. Even though both collections were purportedly inspired by '80's era "bad taste" -- including, but not limited to, tinsel, lame, and graphics culled from artist Felix Topolski -- there's no question that Ward has an implicit sense of quirky chic.

Far from gaudy, all of pieces in the collection exude a sophisticated art-house vibe, like a tiered chiffon skirt featuring see-through silk panels, or the rather confounding angles of a peach ruffle-back cocktail dress. We're especially enamored of the sculpted red pencil skirt, which would make a striking statement paired with one of Ward's sheer nude blouses or black-piped shells.